2024 EDDY AWARDS
Stewardship: Ducks Unlimited Flooded land was seen as damaged not that long ago, but Ducks Unlimited has shown us the power of ipping an assumption on its head. They have shown us through their work that ooded land is worth investing in; it becomes a savior, and the disadvantages of it become advantages. This nonpro t organization advocates on the national stage for responsible stewardship for ooded land. Their investments in restoring wetlands are rede ning the role of activism in business and investment. On the Mississippi alone they have worked on bottomland restoration, ood- plain conservation easements, Iowa nutrient reduction, prairie pothole protection and restoration, rice stewardship, and coastal wetland restoration. This year, they will work with the City of Bettendorf on the Duck Creek oodplain and with the Upper Mississippi River and Towns Initiative on curbing Mississippi River ooding on several tributaries. With multiple partners, they will deliver in- eld and edge -of- eld practices for producers in Scott County, hoping to cover 11,500 acres over 5 years with Regional Conservation Partnership Program funding of $6 million and a $2 million contribution from Ducks Unlimited. Their project manage- ment, funding, and advocacy is ensuring a greener future for our communities and the nation.
Education: Kelly McKay Already admired as a champion for eagles, this year he is spreading across Iowa with Building Better Birders 1–2-day workshops. Kelly McKay is the
embodiment of our conscience reminding us how to treat our wildlife with care. His clear minded call for the planet is one we should hear. He’s earned his authority on the national stage with
papers written, talks given, and workshops presented for over 30 years. Now, faced with climate change,
he hopes to create citizen scientists of us all. F unded through Iowa’s REAP program, last year alone he and his team created 1,086 new citizen scientists in Iowa working with county conserva- tion boards. After Iowa, it is on to Illinois. Believing birding is the vehicle for engaging people in activities such as Owl Prowls, and Bird Calling, he asks that they send observational data back to him for the research he is doing on bird extinction. Every generation has people who inspire subse- quent generations. Kelly has the potential to be that for people who will work in environ- mental science. We have not seen the end of his contributions.
Revitilization: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods If anything needed a facelift, it was 325 2nd St. in Davenport, and with vision and savvy, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, award winning movie makers, made it happen. Constructed in 1895, the now stunning Last Picture House movie theater was earlier an auto mechanic shop, car dealer, marine center, furniture store and pawn shop. Asked what the biggest challenge was, Scott answered, “The architectural deci- sions. We wanted something that would make Los Angelenas jealous. Our designers, Parragon Design and Twin Shores brought it back to life preserving the form of the building and the place it holds in the historic district.” Wanting to take advantage of views of the Mississippi River, Bechtel Park, and the Arsenal Bridge led them to developing the rooftop lounge, a place for gatherings and movies. The renovation that led to the Last Picture House has had a transformative impact on the way the neighborhood sees and serves itself. Besides breathing life into an old building, they are promoting the art of lmmaking, community building, and economic development in the hometowns they love.
Bryan Woods
Scott Beck
May/June/July 2022 | eddy Magazine 5
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